1982 Kenyan coup
Encyclopedia
The 1982 Kenyan coup d'état attempt was a failed attempt to overthrow President Daniel arap Moi
's government. At midnight on Sunday, August 1, 1982, a group of soldiers from the Kenya Air Force
took over the radio station Voice of Kenya and announced that they had overthrown the government. The group tried to force a group of Air Force fighter pilots to bomb the State House
at gunpoint. The pilots pretended to follow the orders on the ground but once airborne they ignored them and instead dropped the bombs to Mount Kenya
forests. unarmed.
Hezekiah Ochuka
, a Senior Private
Grade-I (the second lowest rank in Kenya’s military) ruled Kenya for about six hours before escaping to Tanzania. After being extradited
back to Kenya, he was tried and found guilty of leading the coup attempt and hanged in 1987. Also implicated in the coup attempt was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
, a former Vice President to Jomo Kenyatta
, and his son Raila Amolo Odinga.
The attempt was quickly suppressed by loyalist forces led by the Army, the General Service Unit
(GSU) — paramilitary wing of the police — and later the regular police, but not without civilian casualties.
After the coup attempt, the entire Kenya Air Force
was disbanded. Twelve people, including Ochuka, were sentenced to death, and over 900 were jailed. As of December 2009, this was the last time the death penalty
was used in Kenya.
The coup attempt is also a direct cause for the snap elections in 1983.
In response to alleged campus involvement in the failed coup, the Kenyan government accused external communist sources of secretly funding the attempt.
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
's government. At midnight on Sunday, August 1, 1982, a group of soldiers from the Kenya Air Force
Kenya Air Force
The Kenya Air Force is the national Air Force of Kenya.The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the HQ & operations Kenya Air Force. Other bases include FOB Mombasa The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air Force of...
took over the radio station Voice of Kenya and announced that they had overthrown the government. The group tried to force a group of Air Force fighter pilots to bomb the State House
State House (Kenya)
State House is the official residence of the President of Kenya. It was originally known as Government House. This building was built in 1907 in Nairobi to serve as the official residence of the Governor of British East Africa when Kenya was a British Colony....
at gunpoint. The pilots pretended to follow the orders on the ground but once airborne they ignored them and instead dropped the bombs to Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian , Nelion and Point Lenana . Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, just south of the equator, around north-northeast of the capital Nairobi...
forests. unarmed.
Hezekiah Ochuka
Hezekiah Ochuka
Hezekiah Rabala Ochuka, was Senior Private in the Kenya Air Force, who ruled Kenya for about six hours after planning and executing a coup against president Daniel arap Moi on August 1, 1982....
, a Senior Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Grade-I (the second lowest rank in Kenya’s military) ruled Kenya for about six hours before escaping to Tanzania. After being extradited
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
back to Kenya, he was tried and found guilty of leading the coup attempt and hanged in 1987. Also implicated in the coup attempt was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga was a Luo Chief, who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He later served as Kenya's first Vice-President, and thereafter as opposition leader...
, a former Vice President to Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
, and his son Raila Amolo Odinga.
The attempt was quickly suppressed by loyalist forces led by the Army, the General Service Unit
General Service Unit
The General Service Unit is a paramilitary wing of the Kenyan Military and Kenyan Police, consisting of highly trained police officers and special forces soldiers, transported by 7 dedicated Cessnas and...
(GSU) — paramilitary wing of the police — and later the regular police, but not without civilian casualties.
After the coup attempt, the entire Kenya Air Force
Kenya Air Force
The Kenya Air Force is the national Air Force of Kenya.The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the HQ & operations Kenya Air Force. Other bases include FOB Mombasa The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air Force of...
was disbanded. Twelve people, including Ochuka, were sentenced to death, and over 900 were jailed. As of December 2009, this was the last time the death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
was used in Kenya.
The coup attempt is also a direct cause for the snap elections in 1983.
In response to alleged campus involvement in the failed coup, the Kenyan government accused external communist sources of secretly funding the attempt.